Uttarakhand government announces interest waiver on loans to farmers

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand government has given an interest waiver on loans to farmers for one year in disaster-hit areas of the state.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna announced this while meeting a delegation of farmers from Luxor and Mangalore in Haridwar district at his residence here yesterday.

The interest of farmers will not be allowed to suffer at any cost and their grievances will be addressed on a priority basis, Bahuguna told the delegation.

Funds have been made available to the government sugar mills to enable them to make timely payments to sugarcane growers, he said.

Private sugar mill owners have been warned of stern action if they fail to make payments to farmers on time, the Chief Minister said.

Promising all help to farmers in affected areas, he said they have been exempted from paying their water and electricity bills for one year.

Bahuguna said the government is looking for a permanent solution to minimise the damage caused to crop by floods.